Coke to Launch ”C2” this Summer

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) today announced it will introduce Coca-Cola C2 in Japan first and then the United States this summer. The announcement follows more than a year of research and development on Coca-Cola C2.

@@img1 The newest product to bear the trademark of the world’s best-selling soft drink will have half the sugar, carbohydrates and calories of regular colas.

“Consumers are the true architects of this idea,” said Doug Daft, chairman and chief executive officer, The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola C2 was created to specifically address their desire for a lower-calorie cola with that great Coca-Cola taste.”

The packaging graphics feature the familiar Coca-Cola trademark in black on a “Coca-Cola red” background, to provide a distinctive visual difference between Coca-Cola C2 and the flagship brand. An integrated marketing campaign will support the summer roll-outs, including television, radio, out-of-home and Internet advertising. Coca-Cola C2 will be available in retail and foodservice outlets in bottles and cans, fountain, and as a frozen carbonated beverage.

In the past two years, The Coca-Cola Company has introduced four new products in the cola category — Vanilla Coke (2002), Diet Vanilla Coke (2002), Diet Coke with Lemon (2001), and, most recently, Diet Coke with Lime (2004).

Coca-Cola is the best-known and best-selling soft drink in the world. Diet Coke — known in some countries as Coca-Cola Light — is number one in the diet category, and the third best-selling soft drink overall worldwide.

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, the Company markets four of the world’s top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world’s largest distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca- Cola Company, visit www.coca-cola.com .